Zebra moray eel, reef safe?

[JohnLeoKnight]

So I hear that zebra moray eels are considered reef safe, except for the fact that they eat some crabs. Does anyone have any experience keeping a zebra moray eel with smaller fish however? Say clowns or a bicolor psuedochromis?

 

[alexx2208]

Clowns will be gone the next day if you forget to feed him..... Mine would disappear one by one.

 

[JohnLeoKnight]

I heard they can go weeks without eating tho, and often times will refuse to eat?

 

[Mike Ordner]

Smallest fish I have is a 1.5 inch starry blenny. My zebra moray is about 12 inches long. He does not bother any of my fish. I do not have any shrimp or crabs in my tank. I think shrimp and crabs would not be safe. In nature their prey is small shrimp and crabs.Mine is a good eater. I feed him twice a week on cut up frozen table-sized shrimp. My tank is pretty large, so behavior could be different in smaller tank.

 

[JohnLeoKnight]

What size is your tank? Do you know what there adult captivity size is on average?

 

[TravelinLight]

I have a Zebra Moray in a mixed reef and besides the occianional Sps branch breaking he is a wondeful addition. I have two Yellow Clown gobies, Engineer Gobies, Hawkfish, Chromis, and a Dottyback that are all fairly small and he ignores them all. He shares a cave with two cleaner shrimp and doesnt bother my fire shrimp what so ever. I am lucky enough to live on the coast and feed him with fiddler crabs, sand fleas, live shrimp, and small blue crabs.

Mine is now in an 80g DSA rimless

 

[ramon1181]

Makes me want to add one but i have wrasses that i will really hate to loose

 

[TravelinLight]

Makes me want to add one but i have wrasses that i will really hate to loose

?? why would you loose them? Zebra Morays do not eat fish....

 

[JohnLeoKnight]

I have a Zebra Moray in a mixed reef and besides the occianional Sps branch breaking he is a wondeful addition. I have two Yellow Clown gobies, Engineer Gobies, Hawkfish, Chromis, and a Dottyback that are all fairly small and he ignores them all. He shares a cave with two cleaner shrimp and doesnt bother my fire shrimp what so ever. I am lucky enough to live on the coast and feed him with fiddler crabs, sand fleas, live shrimp, and small blue crabs.

Mine is now in an 80g DSA rimless

How big is he and how old? Do you just throw the fiddlers in and he goes after them lol? I think you've sold me on getting a zebra moray

 

[Dmorty217]

The zebra eel won't eat live fish, they can only see well about 1" out after that it's shadows mostly. Mine is with snails, shrimp and small and large fish with no issues. They will almost never been seen unless they are hungry and out searching for food. Mine eats krill, silversides, and squid once every 3-4 days. I often hand feed... But watch your fingers, they don't see very well like I mentioned

 

[mbauma]

Snowflakes are a good addition and don't get nearly as large as zebras. Zebras get big enough that they can dislodge rock.

 

[JohnLeoKnight]

Snowflakes are a good addition and don't get nearly as large as zebras. Zebras get big enough that they can dislodge rock.

Snow flakes eat smaller fish though

 

[JohnLeoKnight]

The zebra eel won't eat live fish, they can only see well about 1" out after that it's shadows mostly. Mine is with snails, shrimp and small and large fish with no issues. They will almost never been seen unless they are hungry and out searching for food. Mine eats krill, silversides, and squid once every 3-4 days. I often hand feed... But watch your fingers, they don't see very well like I mentioned

Have you ever had one bite you?

 

[mbauma]

Snow flakes eat smaller fish though

Not the one I had and most people I know have had zero problems with them. Zebras can get to 5 feet long. You need at least a 125 when they are full grown.

 

[mbauma]

Have you ever had one bite you?

Another benefit to the snowflake is that they don't actually have teeth. They are a pebble mouth, whereas the zebra is a gymnothorax and have sharp teeth like a tesselata.

 

[Mike Ordner]

What size is your tank? Do you know what there adult captivity size is on average?

Tank foot print is 104 inches x 36 inches.

Zebra morays are not fast growers. I do not know max size as this is my only experience with this fish. LA says max size is 5 feet. I think it would take a verrry long time for mine to get anywhere near that size if it ever did.

 

[Dmorty217]

Have you ever had one bite you?

Yes, this one I have now hasn't done it yet but he is small (12") The one I had 12 yrs ago was much bigger and he bit my finger a couple times but since their teeth are rounded it is more pressure than pain. Scares you the first time it happens, I'm not going to lie.

 

[TravelinLight]

Another benefit to the snowflake is that they don't actually have teeth. They are a pebble mouth, whereas the zebra is a gymnothorax and have sharp teeth like a tesselata.

Not to seem rude but this is completely false. Do some research bra...

 

[TravelinLight]

How big is he and how old? Do you just throw the fiddlers in and he goes after them lol? I think you've sold me on getting a zebra moray

Mine is a little longer then 2 feet long and Ive had it a year... Yes and no on just throwing them in, I have done it before but i prefer just putting them on a wooden stick and putting it near his face. If he hunts them down himself it can be very messy and maybe tear some corals up.

 

[mbauma]

Not to seem rude but this is completely false. Do some research bra...

Which part?

I have had both and have seen many other specimens for each species and can assure you that the statement is not false.